One of a pair of bells (bo) with felines and dragons; probably from a set of four

Object Details

• Provenance

  By 1957-1962

  C. T. Loo Chinese Art, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1962

  Heirs of C. T. Loo (1880-1957), by inheritance [2]

  1962

  Sale, New York, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., Louis J. Marion, “Jade and Other Semi-Precious Mineral Carvings, Single-Color and Decorated Porcelains, From the Estate of the Late C. T. Loo, New York, Sold by Order of the Heirs,” October 10-11, 1962, lot 104 [1]

  Possibly by 1962-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), method of acquisition unknown []

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler [3]

  Notes:

  [1] C. T. Loo was one of the most prominent and well-known figures in the world of Chinese art in the first half of the twentieth century. Loo owned and operated eponymous galleries in New York and Paris, where he offered Chinese, Indian, and South Asian antiquities for study and sale. On September 1, 1952, C. T. Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of the New York business. C. T. Loo, INC. was dissolved by the summer of 1953 and Caro operated as C. T. Loo Chinese Art. Until his death in 1957, Loo continued to play a large role in the business, as he and Caro struck a deal in which profits made on Loo’s stock would be evenly divided and Loo would maintain the lease and rental payments on the company’s gallery space. After Loo’s death, Caro operated independently from the French offices until 1962, when most of the remaining New York inventory transferred to Loo’s heirs.

  [2] See note 3.

  [3]

  See Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., Louis J. Marion, “Jade and Other Semi-Precious Mineral Carvings, Single-Color and Decorated Porcelains, From the Estate of the Late C. T. Loo, New York, Sold by Order of the Heirs,” [auction catalog] (New York: Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., October 10-11, 1962) lot 104, where it is described as a “Bronze Bell (Chung) Late Chou,” with photograph on p. 18.

  [4] See object file for copy of concordance list from the Sackler Foundation, indicating the object was acquired through Frank Caro Chinese Art, who acquired it at the Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc. sale.

  [5] Pursuant to the agreement between Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.

  Research updated May 18, 2023

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Resound: Ancient Bells of China (October 14, 2017 - July 5, 2021)

  America's Smithsonian (February 9 to August 26, 1997)

  In Praise of Ancestors: Ritual Objects from China (September 28, 1987 to January 1, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  C.T. Loo Chinese Art (1953-1961)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Musical Instrument

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., C.T. Loo Chinese Art

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Cats, Art, Animals, Sculpture, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Chinese Art, Dragon, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Musical instruments